Mr.O'Brien, Mr.Davis and others expostulated, and deprecated in unmistakable terms the fatality of engaging the Association to a principle so sectarian, narrow and illiberal.

He said he would take time to consider, and would meantime consult with Doctor MacHale.

He was reminded that Doctor MacHale could not approve of the system without gross inconsistency, and requested to take the opinion of all the other Bishops as well.

How far he was governed by this advice is unimportant and impossible to tell.

But the bishops met in solemn synod and published the result of their deliberations in the following memorial:-- "That memorialists are disposed to co-operate on fair and reasonable terms with her majesty's government and the legislature, in establishing a system for the further extension of academical education in Ireland.
"That a fair proportion of the professors and other office-bearers in the new colleges should be members of the Roman Catholic Church, whose moral conduct shall have been properly certified by testimonials of character, signed by their respective prelates.